Author: This just
came to me as I was considering the premise of another project.
Originally, I had thought to use the Omega Dimension as the setting
of this piece but creativity struck and I decided to create my own
version of Hell. A note to all: this story may contain some
disturbing scenes. It won't be a gore fest as I hate those, but
there will be blood and some violence. The whole concept of this tale
is to see how the characters would react if they're placed into a
situation so dire and so beyond their capabilities that they'd end
up turning on one another. Would their friendship be enough to see
them through or will prejudices and selfishness overcome their
sensibilities? Just how far are they willing to go to survive? If
they are meant to survive at all?

---

1-Prologue

"Here
they come!" Riven yelled.

Prince
Skye looked down the hall to where Riven came running around the
corner. Behind him came Helia, his bandages soaked with new blood and
his eyes as terrified as the prince had ever seen. He nearly
collapsed from exhaustion but Riven was there to pick him up and had
to drag him all the way back to the compartment.

Riven
looked to Skye just as an explosion rocked the ship. "Shut it now!"

Skye
complied and the hatch sealed tight. Those things were now
trapped out in the hall but who knows how long that would last. The
door was three feet of titanium alloy but no matter the obstacle the
creatures had always managed to find a way through. It was only a
matter of time before they got in here. The team had to be up and out
of this place before then. But that was easier said than done.

The
storage compartment had become a makeshift medical ward after the
real one had been destroyed. That was hours ago, or was it days? Skye
had lost count. All he knew was that he had to get his people out of
here. They were his responsibility and no matter what he would see
them through this or die trying.

With
the way things were going the latter seemed all the more realistic.

"How
many of them?" Skye asked.

"Too
many." Riven answered as he placed Helia on a mat where Flora went
to tend to this wounds. "They're all over the damn place! We kill
one, three appear!" Riven turned on Skye. "If we don't get out
of here soon we're going to die. I suggest you think up a plan real
fast, prince, before I do something drastic." Riven left it at that
and moved to find himself another weapon. He had been forced to
discard his previous one after a very close call that nearly
took his head. Helia had saved him then. Helia. Riven looked over at
his wounded friend. The boy was unconscious, the blood flowing freely
after his last battle. Flora did not fight the tears. They flowed as
freely as his blood. She did her best to bandage him up but she knew
as well as Riven did that he would not last much longer.

He
cursed under his breath.

"Tecna."
Skye began. "See if you can scavenge some of those shelves over
there. We're going to strengthen that door as much as we can.
Bloom, see if you can help her. When she's done I want you to meld
that stuff together. Nothing is getting through." After giving the
girls their orders, Skye went to Riven who had his back turned to
him. "Riven, there's something I need you to do."

"Haven't
I done enough?" Riven asked.

"We
don't have time to argue. I need you to go back to the armory and
fetch some more grenades. You used up our last ones on that barricade
of yours."

"At
least it bought us some time." He said defensively.

"That
may be so. But I'm telling you we won't last long without them.
You've seen how they swarm. Only a grenade can effectively clear a
path while taking out most of the bastards in one hit!" Skye
grabbed his shoulder. "You have to do this."

"And
why is that?" Riven shoved his hand off. "While Helia and I were
fighting for our lives you could have fetched the grenades. All
you've done is given orders. Well I'm sick of it!" He whirled
around. "Where is Musa, Skye? Why hasn't she called in?"

The
prince shook his head. "I don't know. I don't know where she
and the others are. They shouldn't have gone out in the first
place."

"At
least they were doing something!" A blast shook the room. Flora
covered Helia with her own body as the explosion had knocked loose
several items that were on the shelves. "Musa was trying help."
Riven continued. "And for all we know she's lying dead out there
being picked clean by those things! I should have gone out
with her."

"She's
with Layla and Timmy."

"Layla
and Timmy can't do shit!"

Bloom
and Tecna looked up at that remark. Tecna's glare stabbed needles
into the redhead and Bloom's was just as murderous. Riven can be
such an ass. Like he's the only one who's loved ones were in
danger.

"They
went off on their own without our knowing. They should have told us.
No one should go off on their own in a situation like this."

"You
mean without your permission?"

"I'm
in charge here, Riven."

"And
a hell of a job you're doing!"

"Enough!"
Bloom yelled. "Stop fighting! You're acting like fools!" The
room shook again. "We have to work together if we're going to get
out of here in one piece."

"Bloom's
right." Added Tecna. "Bickering amongst ourselves in a time like
this is not only illogical, it's suicidal!"

"Staying
in here is suicidal." Riven said.

Skye
watched as he turned and headed for the vent at the back of the room.
"Hold it. We still need things besides the grenades."

"Riven."
Flora whimpered. Helia was barely breathing in her arms. "Please
don't go. We need you. He needs you." She motioned to her
love.

That
stopped Riven momentarily. As much as he cared for Helia though, for
all of them, there was one person he could not live without. "I'm
sorry." He was through the vent before anyone could stop him.

"That…asshole!"
Tecna swore. "He only thinks of himself."

"You're
one to talk." Skye muttered.

"What?"
The fairy asked.

"Nothing."
He turned his back on them, fists clenched. Riven, Helia, Musa,
Tecna, Brandon and Stella. Why wouldn't they listen to me. I'm
trying to keep everyone alive. If they'd only stop acting like
selfish pricks we'd have been out of here by now. If only we worked
together. If only…if only I hadn't brought them here.

"Skye!"

"Huh?"

Bloom
called him. "Wake up! We need you."

"Helia's
getting worse." Flora said.

"And
what about Timmy?" Tecna asked. "Isn't he just as important?"

Flora
scowled at her. "Timmy's not here right now."

"He
would be if you knew how to read instructions!"

"Don't
do this." Bloom warned.

"He
went out because she doesn't know how to read."

"I
didn't see you volunteering to go out." Flora said.

"Someone
needed to work the comm."

"Or
maybe you just wanted to be safe. Never on the front lines are you,
Tec?"

"If
those monsters don't do it first." Tecna said just before another
explosion rattled their haven. "That fool, Riven! He put that one
too close. Does he mean to blow a wall for the bastards to get in and
eat us? Knowing him, he planned that all along."

"Alright,
Tecna." Skye said.

"I
mean it. He's been nothing but a hindrance to our efforts since the
beginning."

"He's
a good man."

"He's
a threat!"

"Tecna!"
Skye nearly exploded. "Enough! I have to think."

"Hmph.
Now I know we're doomed."

"Shut
your mouth!" Bloom said. The redhead stood up. "Look I can still
meld the shelves into the hatch so to buy us some time. But we still
need to get Helia fixed up. We can't do that here."

As
if he heard them, Helia groaned in Flora's lap.

"And
where do you suggest we take him? The medical ward? Oh that's
right?" Tecna looked at Skye. "Your antics destroyed that place
didn't it?"

Ignoring
her, Skye focused on Bloom. "I don't think it's a good idea to
move Helia. I'll go see if I can scrounge up some med kits from the
shuttle. I'll pick up some rations and weapons on the way. In the
meantime just hold the fort. I'll be back as soon as possible."

Bloom
watched him head for the vent. "Skye." He stopped. Bloom ran over
and planted a kiss on his cheek. "Be careful."

"You
know it." Skye entered the vent and turned for one last look at
Bloom before moving on. He was only a few feet in when a blast so
powerful shook him onto his stomach. He cursed and looked back. Smoke
emitted from the room he had left. Swearing again, Skye went back
inside only to find the room pitch black, save for the fire bellowing
all around. "Bloom!" Skye searched for her. He found Bloom
beneath the rubble, her beautiful face all bloodied up. "No." He
fell to his knees. He did not see Flora, Tecna or Helia anywhere. To
be honest, he didn't care. All he knew was that his love was dead.

"Bloom."
He cradled her in his arms. How could this have happened? Why did it
have to be her? She was kind. Pure. Loving. The perfect woman. She
did not deserve to die like this. Not like this.

"I
am so sorry." He cried. "Bloom, please forgive me." His sobs
filled the air. His life had no meaning without her in it. He just
hoped the flames would consume him so that he may join her in the
afterlife. How he wished the blast had killed him too. Riven must
have put one too close and…

"Riven."
Skye whispered. His carelessness had killed the woman he loved. Tecna
was right about him. He was a threat. He had been since the first
time Skye had ever met him. "Riven." He said again only this time
with more venom. He must pay. He had to. No way he was going to let
those things get to him before he did. Placing his dead love
on the floor, Skye pulled out his sword.

It
was time to go hunting.

---

Author: You know I
rewrote this opening ten times before I was satisfied. Took me only
four hours! And all before Christmas too. I think this pretty much
sums up what you can expect from this tale. A lot of bad things are
going to happen and I only brought you into the middle of the story.
This was the prologue. In the next chapter we see all the events
leading up to this tragedy. Just where the hell are they and what is
going on? Read to find out!

The author would like to thank you for your continued support. Your review has been posted.